Guidebook for Chicago
Food Scene
Boutique Tacos. Excellent Patio especially in the sunny afternoon. I don't go here much because it is so popular, but man I wish I did.
1176 residents recomanen
Big Star
1531 N Damen AveBoutique Tacos. Excellent Patio especially in the sunny afternoon. I don't go here much because it is so popular, but man I wish I did.
Approachable but serious espresso and the best pour-over coffees around.
26 residents recomanen
Buzz Killer Espresso
Approachable but serious espresso and the best pour-over coffees around.
the closest free wifi to me. a decent large table to work at. Look at all the cute dogs outside that wait for their owners to get their lattes. Maproom across street even better local cafe feel though
213 residents recomanen
Starbucks
1588 N Milwaukee Avethe closest free wifi to me. a decent large table to work at. Look at all the cute dogs outside that wait for their owners to get their lattes. Maproom across street even better local cafe feel though
local roaster. walk to this cafe and see the trucks cruise a loud and busy Western Ave. tuck away in the back of this cafe and read that book you bought at Myopic Books.
109 residents recomanen
Ipsento Coffee
2035 N Western Avelocal roaster. walk to this cafe and see the trucks cruise a loud and busy Western Ave. tuck away in the back of this cafe and read that book you bought at Myopic Books.
my guilty pleasure. established 1948. There is a local food tour that starts here. Order a hot dog with fries for $3.50
10 residents recomanen
George's Hot Dogs
1876 N Damen Avemy guilty pleasure. established 1948. There is a local food tour that starts here. Order a hot dog with fries for $3.50
Want to brush up on your NES skills? Or check out the Back to the Future DeLorian while sipping a mocha? Step into the 80s even if you have never been before or planned on going back.
131 residents recomanen
The Wormhole Coffee
1462 N Milwaukee AveWant to brush up on your NES skills? Or check out the Back to the Future DeLorian while sipping a mocha? Step into the 80s even if you have never been before or planned on going back.
lad nar with tofu chicken or beef and sauce on the side. $8.75
pad thai with tofu chicken or beef. $8.75
thank me later.
16 residents recomanen
Penny's Noodle Shop
1542 North Damen Avenuelad nar with tofu chicken or beef and sauce on the side. $8.75
pad thai with tofu chicken or beef. $8.75
thank me later.
ok this place can get annoying on a busy night if you do not have a reservation. But with a little planning you can get excellent value on quality reg./spicy salmon rolls. BYOB and cool atmosphere.
80 residents recomanen
Coast Sushi Bar
2045 North Damen Avenueok this place can get annoying on a busy night if you do not have a reservation. But with a little planning you can get excellent value on quality reg./spicy salmon rolls. BYOB and cool atmosphere.
best brunch in town. always a line on weekends unless you show up at 9am exactly when they open on weekends.
199 residents recomanen
Bongo Room
1470 N Milwaukee Avebest brunch in town. always a line on weekends unless you show up at 9am exactly when they open on weekends.
byob authentic costa rican food. an outdoor patio that gets very lively during busy hours.
109 residents recomanen
Irazu Costa Rican Restaurant & Catering
1865 N Milwaukee Avebyob authentic costa rican food. an outdoor patio that gets very lively during busy hours.
a bit of a hike from my place, but a hip cafe and roaster. started by locals and refined by locals. a cool backyard patio to leave your bike or grab some sun.
135 residents recomanen
Star Lounge Coffee Bar (Dark Matter Coffee)
2521 W Chicago Avea bit of a hike from my place, but a hip cafe and roaster. started by locals and refined by locals. a cool backyard patio to leave your bike or grab some sun.
patio in the back. nice local vibe. vegan/vegetarian comfort food. "We recycle, brew fair-trade coffee, serve all organic eggs, and source produce from local farms." not hungry? get your drink on!
140 residents recomanen
Handlebar
2311 W North Avepatio in the back. nice local vibe. vegan/vegetarian comfort food. "We recycle, brew fair-trade coffee, serve all organic eggs, and source produce from local farms." not hungry? get your drink on!
Everything Else
Find that book you'd never have imagined finding. Staff pics in the front or dig though the used shelves. Turn off your cellphone (requested) head upstairs, find a table and find a treasure!
118 residents recomanen
Myopic Books
1564 N Milwaukee AveFind that book you'd never have imagined finding. Staff pics in the front or dig though the used shelves. Turn off your cellphone (requested) head upstairs, find a table and find a treasure!
what do you mean you didn't bring a swim suit?
10 residents recomanen
Holstein Park Public Pool (Outdoor)
2200 N Oakley Avewhat do you mean you didn't bring a swim suit?
high prices. excellent products. deli, choice cheese, ice-cream, flowers, fresh produce, packaged pastas and jars full of just about everything.
64 residents recomanen
Olivia's Market
2014 W Wabansia Avehigh prices. excellent products. deli, choice cheese, ice-cream, flowers, fresh produce, packaged pastas and jars full of just about everything.
easily rent a bike from the bikerack and return it to any other bikerack. do not keep bike all day just ride from 1 place to 1 place and find an open divvy rack.
39 residents recomanen
Divvy
easily rent a bike from the bikerack and return it to any other bikerack. do not keep bike all day just ride from 1 place to 1 place and find an open divvy rack.
Drinks & Nightlife
Pretend you are a local and get here in the early evening but leave when it fills out (and it will). Grab a seat along the open tall windows and people watch all the starbucks peeps across the street.
119 residents recomanen
Map Room
1949 N Hoyne AvePretend you are a local and get here in the early evening but leave when it fills out (and it will). Grab a seat along the open tall windows and people watch all the starbucks peeps across the street.
it's a house that someone decided to convert into a bar. get there before 10 so you don't wait in line. actually don't wait in line (unless its soul night) as there are so many great bars in this area
76 residents recomanen
Dannys
it's a house that someone decided to convert into a bar. get there before 10 so you don't wait in line. actually don't wait in line (unless its soul night) as there are so many great bars in this area
Arts & Culture
Ok so you already felt like a local at maproom but now feel like a hip local. First saturdays of the month turn into dance parties Live music most weekend nights. Andrew Bird launched from this corner
64 residents recomanen
The Hideout
1354 W Wabansia AveOk so you already felt like a local at maproom but now feel like a hip local. First saturdays of the month turn into dance parties Live music most weekend nights. Andrew Bird launched from this corner
vintage movie theater. the only one in the area. take the blue line
315 residents recomanen
The Logan Theatre
2646 N Milwaukee Avevintage movie theater. the only one in the area. take the blue line
Essentials
it's tough to beat their savings. grab a home run inn cheese pizza for $6.25 and taste the best frozen pizza chicago has to offer.
131 residents recomanen
Aldi
3363 N Milwaukee Aveit's tough to beat their savings. grab a home run inn cheese pizza for $6.25 and taste the best frozen pizza chicago has to offer.
flagship midwest store. if you are into grocery stores then don't miss this one. several small restaurants inside and drink local beer or sample a choice wine while you shop. Kombutcha on tap too!
836 residents recomanen
Whole Foods Market
3640 N Halsted Stflagship midwest store. if you are into grocery stores then don't miss this one. several small restaurants inside and drink local beer or sample a choice wine while you shop. Kombutcha on tap too!
where the locals go because aldi has a poor booze selection and no deli counter.
180 residents recomanen
Jewel-Osco
550 N State Stwhere the locals go because aldi has a poor booze selection and no deli counter.
I've never been but I hear they have good produce and they might be the closest large grocer.
Danny's Fresh Market
2140 N Western AveI've never been but I hear they have good produce and they might be the closest large grocer.
Shopping
new and used vinyl. walk around with one of their bags after making a purchase and feel like a local.
111 residents recomanen
Reckless Records
929 W Belmont Avenew and used vinyl. walk around with one of their bags after making a purchase and feel like a local.
Sightseeing
the only touristy thing I can easily recommend. take the blue line or the metra clybourne towards city and walk over past skyscrapers. after, walk down to lakefront path and check out the sailboats.
1243 residents recomanen
Parc del Mil·leni
201 E Randolph Stthe only touristy thing I can easily recommend. take the blue line or the metra clybourne towards city and walk over past skyscrapers. after, walk down to lakefront path and check out the sailboats.